By D’Drift Team
HAVE you ever wandered through the forest, mesmerised by its endless shades of green, and wondered which fruits are safe to eat? Or if you found yourself with a cut, what leaves or sap might serve as a natural antiseptic? Perhaps you have heard tales of the jungle’s hidden offerings—plants that heal, roots that nourish, and vines that quench thirst—but never know exactly where to begin.
At Badul Homestay, knowledge of the wilderness is not merely shared; it is lived and breathed. Here, under the expert guidance of Oswald Bracken Tisen, a man whose career with the Sarawak Forestry Department has made him a walking compendium of nature’s secrets, visitors are invited to rediscover the age-old wisdom of jungle survival.
A walk with the wild: Lessons from the land
The D’Drift team stood in awe as Oswald led us through the lush greenery surrounding the homestay. With each step, he told a new story, a new lesson hidden within the flora and fauna that thrived around us.
Bamboo trees stood tall, their versatile forms having been believed to serve as prosperity and protection. A pupating caterpillar, wrapped within the tender embrace of a banana leaf, awaited its moment of metamorphosis. Here, we do not only experience but also appreciate.
“Look here,” Oswald called, his fingers brushing against the glossy leaves of the betel plant. He explained the ritual of chewing ‘buah pinang’ (betel nut) wrapped in ‘daun sirih’ (betel leaf), spread with a touch of ‘kapur’ (slaked lime). With a hearty laugh, he recounted his own misadventure—years ago, he had unknowingly swallowed the liquid instead of spitting it out, leaving him in a daze for three days.
“I was ‘mabuk’ (drunk) for three days because of it!” he laughed, saying that it was the worst he had experienced, and added that the ‘daun sirih’ is easily addictive.
Oswald’s generosity knew no bounds. He welcomed us into his garden, a sanctuary of edible and medicinal plants, where guests are free to forage, pluck, and taste nature’s bounty.
He spoke of ‘mahkota dewa’ (God’s crown) fruit, its peel steeped into a detoxifying tea, and of the buan plant—each stage of its growth offering a different use. Mature leaves, sturdy and fragrant, served as food wrappers, while the young ones, when snapped open, revealed an antiseptic sap that could be rubbed onto wounds.
“Chew a little on the young leaf and rub it on the wound,” Oswald advised with seasoned wisdom.
Beyond mere sustenance, the jungle held an artist’s trove—Job’s tears, also known as adlay millet, stood swaying in the breeze, its grains transformed into beads for jewellery.
“You can use them as they are, with their dark colour,” he explained. “Or dry them under the sun, and they’ll turn white. Just thread a string through, like beads.”
Despite the day going on, our adventure was far from over. Oswald led us on a path for the night walk along a quiet road by the homestay, revealing yet more hidden wonders.
Along the way, he demonstrated how a simple leaf, crushed between our fingers, could create a foamy lather, nature’s very own soap. Even the young leaves of the rubber plant, so unassuming, were edible. The experience held as much knowledge as the day, and with each discovery, the jungle felt less like an untamed wilderness and more like an open book, waiting to be read.
The renegades of Singai
But no place exists without history, and the area of Singai where Badul Homestay resides is no exception. The land carries past stories, tales embedded into the very soil. Among them are the stories of the Singai renegades—warriors who defied the rule of Sir James Brooke, the first White Rajah of Sarawak.
“In fact, two of them (renegades) were killed,” Oswald shared, his tone shifting. “One was Pak Raba, and the other, Pak Tumu.”
Feared as formidable headhunters, their fates were sealed when they surrendered, fearing that their villages would suffer retribution should they resist further. Though executed for their defiance, one could not help but ponder—did they face trial? Were their voices heard before their lives were taken?
The question lingers in the evening air, heavy with the weight of history. It is a sobering moment, a reminder that the land we tread holds more than just life—it holds memories, decisions, and consequences that shaped the world we inherit today.
More than just a homestay
At Badul Homestay, every path leads to discovery, and every knowledge gained is a lesson from the land itself. It is more than just a retreat—it is a return to the roots, to a way of life where nature provides, nurtures, and teaches. Here, the hands grow familiar with the textures of the earth, the eyes sharpen to the secrets of the jungle, and the soul, perhaps weary of the modern world, finds solace in the calming melody of the wilderness.
To stay at Badul Homestay is to step into a story—one filled with knowledge passed through generations, carried in the rustling leaves and the flowing river. It is an invitation to embrace the unknown, to walk in the footsteps of those who came before, and to leave not just with memories, but with wisdom that lingers long after the journey ends.
The homestay itself offers a variety of rooms suitable for friends, families, and solo adventurers alike. For those seeking respite from the tropical heat, a nearby pool beckons, inviting a cooling dip under the golden hues of the evening sky.
This is a place for the curious, the adventurous, and those yearning to reclaim the wisdom that modernity has all but forgotten.
Interested in an unforgettable stay? Contact Catherine at 016-860 2247, and don’t forget to book your night walk in advance—you won’t want to miss what the jungle has to reveal after dark. –DayakDaily
